Impatiens plant named `Guadeloupe`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named Guadeloupe, chracterized by its compact growth habit with excellent branching; large (7 cm) bicolored bright fuchsia and lavender flowers; very floriferous; dark, bronze-green foliage, and adaptability to 4 &#34; pot, 6 &#34; pot and hanging basket culture.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of plantknown as Impatiens and commercially known as New Guinea Impatiens. Thenew cultivar is known by the cultivar name Guadeloupe and was developedby the inventor Ludwig Kientzler in Gensingen, Federal Republic ofGermany by crossing the cultivar designated K Z 334 (seed parent) withthe cultivar R P 87 (pollen parent).

Asexual reproduction by terminal (stem tip) cuttings taken by or underthe supervision of the inventor at Gensingen, Federal Republic ofGermany, has shown that the unique features of this new impatiens arestabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Impatiens from bothits parent varieties and other cultivars of this general type known andused in the floriculture industry:

1. Compact growth habit with excellent branching charcteristics. Plantsin 16.5 cm pots were 21 cm tall and 36 cm wide, eight weeks after firstflowering.

2. Large, bicolored bright fuchsia and lavender flowers. Open flowersmeasure up to 7 cm in diameter.

3. Very floriferous. Plants in 16.5 cm pots were in flower eight (8)weeks after planting.

4. Dark, bronze-green foliage.

5. Well suited to 4" pot, 6" pot and hanging basket culture.

Guadeloupe is similar in many respects to Octavia, disclosed in U.S.Pat. P.P. No.8,430. Although each cultivar has bicolored flowers anddark, bronze-green foliage, the flower color of Guadeloupe is a brightfuchsia and lavender, while Octavia is red and violet. Guadeloupe has alarger portion of the darker color on each flower petal. In addition,Guadeloupe has a more compact, but spreading growth habit, large flowersand a more distinct bicolor flower pattern than Octavia. Thesedifferences are based on comparisons made in May 1995 based on plants ofthe same age and in full flower.

The accompanying colored photographic drawing, is a top perspective viewof the new cultivar, showing color as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of the new impatiens cultivarbased on plants grown under commercial practice in Encinitas, Calif.Plants were started as rooted cuttings and were transplanted inmid-February into 16.5 cm (6.5 inch) pots, one pot per plant. Bymid-April, plants were growing vigorously and were in flower. Thevalues, measurements and observations noted below were taken from plantsin full bloom in mid-May.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Parentage: Cross between K Z 334 (seed) and R P87 (pollen).

Asexual reproduction:

Cutting type.--Tip, with stems 2-3 cm long and developing to 4-5 cmafter 21 days in propagations.

Time to initiate roots.--8-10 days at 23° C.; nicely developed root massin 18-21 days.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous, adventitious roots from the stem.

Plant description:

Form.--Symmetrical, bush shaped, flowering herb, with self-branchingcharacteristics giving the plant a full appearance. Pinching is notrecommended since it does not enhance branching and only delaysflowering by removing flower buds.

Habit of growth.--Vigorous, self-branching habit, producing whorls ofleaves and flowers. Growth is indeterminate and flowering is continuous.

Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaves on stems in whorlsof 2-3. Higher on stem, leaves in whorls of mostly 5. Leaf shape:Broadly elliptic to ovate. Leaf blade tips are acuminate; bases ofimmature leaves are acute; mature leaves attenuate. Leaf blade size:Mature leaves 8-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. Petiole length: About 1 cm.Leaf margin: Ciliated and finely serrated. Leaf texture: Slightlyrugose. Upper surface: Glabrous. Under surface: Glabrous. Leaf color:Dark, bronze-green with a red midvein. Upper surface: Darker than 147A.Midvein near 53A. Under surface: Greyed purple, 183A-B. Venation:Pinnate.

Flowering description:

Flowering habits.--Very floriferous. Flowering is continuous. Flowersdevelop progressively around the whorl of leaves, taking 5-7 days frombuds which show color, to bloom. Flowers are single and large, lastingfor 2-3 weeks,

Natural flowering season.--Flowering is indeterminate and occursthroughout the year. Quantity of flowers increases with increasing lightintensity and duration. However, floriferousness may wane during hotsummer days in temperate climates.

Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal and covered with three (3) sepals plusrudimentary sepals fused into the under surface of the superior petal. Aspur originates from the base of the inferior sepal. Spur is reddish andabout 5 cm long.

Flowers borne.--Singly, on reddish green pedicels about 6 cm long.

Quantity of flowers.--One flower per leaf. Flowers occur progressivelyaround the whorl of leaves so that tight buds to mature flowers arevisible at the same time.

Petals.--The superior and lateral petals open less than perpendicularrto the pedicel and the inferior petals are reflexed so that the plane ofthe flower surface is not flat. Number of petals: Five (5) petals, alloverlapping. Shape: All petals are heart-shaped. Superior petal has abroad base. Other petals have a pointed base. Color: Bright fuchsia andlavender bicolored petals. Upper surface: Periphery near 82D. Stripalong midvein and a large portion of the superior petal near 74B. Undersurface: Periphery near 72C, 5B along midvein. Flower size: Large, up to7.0 cm in diameter.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Five (5), broad and fused to form a tubearound the ovary; red in color. Anther: Hooded and cream colored.Pollen: Cream colored. Stigma: Five-pointed star, colorless. Styles:Very short. Ovary: Five-celled, 4-5 mm long until fertilized. Grows to 1cm or longer after fertilization; purplish.

Resistance to disease: Good resistance to common stem and root diseases,Rhizoctonia and Pythium. Botrytis may be a problem in humid or mistpropagation environments, but no greater than with other New GuineaImpatiens cultivars.

It is claimed:
 1. A new distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant namedGuadeloupe, as illustrated and described.